Aussie Swag Campers liquidation

[Black Diamond]

All to common these days unfortunately. Such a shame for people who have put in their heart and soul into a product and business for so long only to see this happen.

[two up]

From my own personal perspective, the problem lies in the size of the target market. Australia simply has too small a population to support niche market manufacturers of items that cost $50k+.
The product was too quality. Nobody would question that. But the simple fact is that the number of people who A have that kinf of $, and B want to truly go off road, are so few. It only takes 1 or 2 sales to drop off for the business to die.

I disagree, although not traditional campers as such AOR has a queue of at least 6 month for products starting at 80 odd k. People will pay for quality but IMHO the days of paying 50-60 k to camp under canvas is fast disappearing. The Chinese are not that good at design in this sector but what they can do well is copy good aussie r&d and turn out a reasonable copy.

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[SEADOO]

Very true,

Not when you can pay the same money for a van with a ensuite, AC and the comforts of home, without the hassles of setting up a tent.

[GBC]

So who bought a Chinese car to do the hard miles? Who is happy to use Chinese steel on a build project? Who has had a metal roof on their house that has faded?  Who has looked at the reviews on line of some of these imports. The Aussie Swag price last year for the LX was $44800. Yes it is twice the price of the cheap imports. And as the majority of users will only take them to camp grounds, caravan parks etc the cheap imports are the perfect fit. But would you really be happy dragging one behind your Toyota on those harsh outback tracks? Horses for courses. There is a market for a quality product, small but there. What happened to Aussie Swag is only speculation. Maybe they just wanted to retire. Such a shame another Aussie company goes out of business.

Yep. So far so good too. It won't be the chassis or running gear on mine that goes, it will be draw runners and zips I reckon, but again, nothing so far and it has some runs on the board.

[Rumpig]

Very true,

Not when you can pay the same money for a van with a ensuite, AC and the comforts of home, without the hassles of setting up a tent.

the beauty of the more expensive campers is that they tend to be easier and quicker to set up then their cheaper cousins, less poles and better quality ones also, but obviously vans are quicker again. It's horses for courses at the end of the day, but a small van with ensuite and air con etc tends to come in around the 2 tonne of weight and closer to 19ft you are talking the 3 tonne range these days, so there's a downside of more weight on many of them. We are looking at getting a van in the future, but the weight issue has turned me off them and I'm struggling to find something that accomadates a family that isn't $80K and weighs 3 tonne when on the road travelling.

[GBC]

Not to mention they are wider and taller. I would have to give up camping where I camp to own one so a hard floor is the right thing for me for a long while yet. Totally agree about speed of setup and fitout levels in the high level aust vs import. I like mine,  but it's never going to be a Kimberley/swag/aor.

[Bird]

... less poles and better quality ones also,

I have noticed some photos of some of the imports have enough poles for the awnings to make me not want to take the trailer.

[GBC]

I have noticed some photos of some of the imports have enough poles for the awnings to make me not want to take the trailer.

That's about the first thing I re-engineered. Took 10 minutes. The way they are sold is stupid.

[xcvator]

the beauty of the more expensive campers is that they tend to be easier and quicker to set up then their cheaper cousins, less poles and better quality ones also, but obviously vans are quicker again. It's horses for courses at the end of the day, but a small van with ensuite and air con etc tends to come in around the 2 tonne of weight and closer to 19ft you are talking the 3 tonne range these days, so there's a downside of more weight on many of them. We are looking at getting a van in the future, but the weight issue has turned me off them and I'm struggling to find something that accomadates a family that isn't $80K and weighs 3 tonne when on the road travelling.

Now c'mon Rummy, What are you really looking for, our van is only 15' has full seperate shower/toilet etc empty 1750kgs fully loaded 2150 BUT it's a 2 person van, if you want a FAMILY van of course it's going to be bigger and heavier. Solution get the smaller van and bung the visitors/kids into swags under the awning. It's a buyers market for 2nd hand vans in the $40/60k range

[Rumpig]

Now c'mon Rummy, What are you really looking for, our van is only 15' has full seperate shower/toilet etc empty 1750kgs fully loaded 2150 BUT it's a 2 person van, if you want a FAMILY van of course it's going to be bigger and heavier. Solution get the smaller van and bung the visitors/kids into swags under the awning. It's a buyers market for 2nd hand vans in the $40/60k range

you just agreed exactly with what I wrote, a small van is 2 tonne when travelling and I am talking new prices here, a secondhand Aussie Swag or Kimberley aren't $50K just like a secondhand van isn't $80K. I have a family so that's what I shop for and what my comments are based on, not a 2 person caravan that skews someone's argument to suit what they say....why should my kids be outside in negative temperatures when I am inside with a diesel heater running, they are warm and heaps of room in my camper trailer now so why be cold and cramped later in a swag.

[jw2170]

From my own personal perspective, the problem lies in the size of the target market. Australia simply has too small a population to support niche market manufacturers of items that cost $50k+.
The product was too quality. Nobody would question that. But the simple fact is that the number of people who A have that kinf of $, and B want to truly go off road, are so few. It only takes 1 or 2 sales to drop off for the business to die.

Pretty much, my thoughts on the Australian market....A smaller population, even on a percentage basis, does not provide a stable "niche" market.

I wonder what their turnover, in number of units, was?


As an aside, I also notice that Cub are reducing their range....

[filcar]

https://www.caravancampingsales.com.au/editorial/details/aussie-swag-closes-down-110984/

[Bird]

what most expected
'The Brendale, Queensland based business, which had operated since 1985, appears to be the latest victim of cheaper imported campers that have flooded the local market over the past decade, and made it difficult for locally-based camper builders to compete'

[Black Diamond]

I have noticed some photos of some of the imports have enough poles for the awnings to make me not want to take the trailer.

x1000 it's ridiculous. Was checking a few out a couple of weeks ago. Defeats the purpose.

[Bird]

x1000 it's ridiculous. Was checking a few out a couple of weeks ago. Defeats the purpose.

i have a trailer for you